Porcelain Dental Crowns by dentist Geelong is a type of dental restoration procedure done by the dentists, which completely caps or encircles a tooth or a dental implant.
Porcelain dental crowns are often done by the dentists when there is a large cavity that threatens the ongoing dental health of a tooth.
Porcelain dental crown is commonly known as dental caps are an artificial prosthesis that covers the entire tooth that needs protection from fracturing. These teeth may include root canal treatment done by the dentist, a large teeth filled by the dentist. The dental crown holds the entire tooth together from fracturing.
Dental crowns are used by the dentist to restore teeth functions, aesthetics and in certain cases the colour of the tooth. Dental crowns can be done either in our dental surgery in Norlane, Geelong on the same day or sent off to a dental lab and when the dental crowns are fabricated by the lab it’s then fixed with cement onto the tooth.
Dental crowns can be made from gold, porcelain, zirconia and procera. The dental crowns are made to resemble the original shape of the teeth and colour of the adjacent teeth.
Average lifespan of a dental crown is around 8-10 years. It can actually last lot longer than that, if there is proper oral hygiene, regular dental checkups with the dentist and a low sugar diet is maintained by the patients.
If dental crowns are made properly, the failure rate is minimal. But the porcelain can chip off if the patient starts grinding their teeth.
Dental Crown Advantages
- Dental crowns are commonly used by the dentist to protect a root canal tooth, as they decrease the chances of the brittle tooth from fracturing and may help seal the tooth from bacteria entering into the tooth
- Teeth that have large fillings and cannot bear the biting forces and may further crack and break down. A dental crown done by the dentist will help in protecting the tooth
- If front teeth are discolored and bleaching or veneers cannot be performed by the dentist, then a dental crown can be made by the dentist with a specific colour and shape to improve the aesthetics
- Larger teeth are decayed and require extra protection
Dental Crown disadvantages
- Tooth structure grinded away to fit the crown over the tooth. But usually, a tooth which requires a crown is already badly broken down
- If the tooth gets infected and a root canal is necessary, then the crown needs to be removed or an access hole will need to be drilled through the crown and the nerves have to be accessed. This is a difficult task and it may need to be performed by an endodontist or the crown cut off and a new crown made
Before deciding on making a dental crown on the tooth with the dentist, x-rays of the area are needed to make sure that there is no infection, enough bone support is present and the gums are in a healthy state. At this appointment, dentist in Geelong will take moulds of the tooth, so that a temporary dental crown can be made.
To make a dental crown, two further dental appointments are required with the dentists.
Dental Crown First appointment with the dentist in Geelong
During the first appointment with the dentist a local anaesthetic is given to the area. Photos are taken of the teeth and sent to the local dental lab, to match the colour of the permanent dental crown. If the colour cannot be determined, then the patient is required to attend the dental lab and the dental technician will select the colour with the aid of photos and a shade matching instrument.
The teeth are then cut down to the required amount and a mould is taken using a rubber base material and it is sent off to a local dental laboratory. The dentist then fabricates a temporary crown and this is cemented on with temporary cement. The temporary crown can be used for 5 to 8 working days, before the permanent crown dental appointment. Some patients may experience sensitivity while having a temporary dental crown.
Dental Crown Second appointment with the dentist in Geelong
During the second appointment with the dentist, if required a local anesthetic may be used. The temporary dental crown is removed and the permanent dental crown is tried on. The patient is asked to see if the colour is suitable, the bite and fit is checked by the dentist and the dental crown is cemented on with permanent cement.
It is essentially that the patient take care for the new dental crowns, by brushing and flossing daily and having regular dental checkups with the dentist.
If you need any cosmetic dental treatment like porcelain dental crown done, please call our dental clinic in Norlane to book your dental appointment and speak to our qualified cosmetic dentist doing dental crowns in Geelong